Junior Knights swept by Salina

The Newton Junior Knights suffered from too many runners left on base in too many innings, dropping two games to the Salina Eagles Friday night in the finals of the Kansas American Legion Class A, Zone 5 Tournament at Kenny Williams Field.

Salina needed two games to win the tournament after a first-round loss to McPherson, but won the first championship game 7-6 and the second game 5-0.

Salina won five straight games to improve to 15-15 and advance to the Class A State Tournament Wednesday in Burlington. Newton ends the season 25-7.

"We left too many guys on base," Junior Knights manager Mark George said. "We watched too many good pitches go by. We hit the ball hard, but we hit it right at them. Offensively, we just couldn't get anything going tonight. I tip my cap to Salina. Their pitching staff did an exceptional job of getting strike one. They played great defense. They made routine plays and they made the non-routine plays. They beat us because they played better than us.

"We had chances. We're a more productive team than this. We just didn't get it done. We've relied on our offense all year."

In the deciding game of the tournament, Newton left bases loaded in the top of the first. Salina had runners at second and third base with one out in the bottom of the second, but two ground outs ended the threat.

Newton put runners at first and third with one out in the top of the third, but failed to score. Salina used a hit, two walks, an error and a Tanner Thaxton sacrifice fly to score three runs in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the fourth, Newton put runners at second and third with one out and left them stranded. Trenton Baird hit a solo home run to right to lead off the bottom of the fifth. An error led to a Salina run in the sixth.

Salina starter Garrett Campion allowed four hits with seven walks and four strikeouts. Kayden Besher threw the seventh, allowing one base runner on an error.

Newton starter Garrett Davis went five innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Cole Koerner finished the game, allowing an unearned run on a hit with a walk and a strikeout.

Thaxton went two for three hitting for Salina. Jacob Foster went two for four. Justin Allen went two for two.

Regan McCloud went two for four hitting for Newton.

Salina scored first in the first game when Jacob Yarochowicz drew a one-out double and scored on a Campion single. Newton left a total of five runners on base in the first two innings. Three hits in the third inning led to two more Salina runs.

Page 2 of 3 - Four hits in the top of the fourth led to two Newton runs. A picked off runner prevented Newton from tying the game. Salina answered with a run. Salina appeared to put things away with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on three hits with an error.

Newton opened the top of the seventh with three straight singles. Jack Kingsley then hit a three-run shot over the left-center field fence. After a strikeout and a ground out, Chazz Martinez singled to right. A strikeout ended the game.

For Salina, Yarochowicz, Baird, Campion, Thaxton and Allen each had two hits. For Newton, McCloud, Cole Sturgeon and Martinez each had two hits.

McCloud started and lost for Newton, striking out five. Martinez faced one batter, drawing a double play. Baird started and won for Salina. Foster pitched the last three innings for the save, striking out four.

"It's been a good season," George said. "They guys have a lot to be proud of. They should hold their heads high. What we have leaned on our entire season has been our bats. Whatever deficiencies we had pitching or defense were lifted up by our hitting bailing us out. It didn't happen for us tonight. I'm extremely excited about the future with this group. I'm impressed with their character. They certainly represented their families and community well. I'm blessed to be their coach."